cis-Pyridyl core-modified porphyrins for the synthesis of cationic water-soluble porphyrins and unsymmetrical non-covalent porphyrin arrays

Synthesis of a series of 21-thia and 21-oxoporphyrin building blocks containing two pyridyl functional groups at the meso positions in a cis fashion is reported. The building blocks were used to synthesize a series of cationic water-soluble 21-thia and 21-oxoporphyrins. An unsymmetrical non-covalent trimer containing two dissimilar porphyrin cores such as one N₃S and two N₄ porphyrins cores was also constructed using the pyridyl porphyrin building blocks reported here.